©

© (Copyright Sign, U+00A9) is the globally recognized symbol denoting that a work is protected by copyright law. Visually, it's a lowercase "c" gracefully enclosed within a circle, serving as an instant visual cue to intellectual property rights. This mark commonly appears on books, websites, software, music, and other creative works, typically followed by the year of publication and the copyright holder's name, such as "© 2023 Acme Corp." While the Berne Convention largely made copyright automatic without formal notice in many countries, the symbol—originating from US copyright law—remains a universally understood and concise way to declare ownership and protection. Related characters include ℗ (Sound Recording Copyright) specifically for audio works and ® (Registered Sign) for trademarks, each signifying different forms of intellectual property.